PHNOM PENH: Cambodian police arrested eight rights activists, including two foreigners, on Monday as they stamped down on protests linked to a shadowy political sex scandal.

Eight people, including the deputy director of prominent local rights organisation Licadho and two foreigners  a Swede and a German who also work for the group  were detained as they tried to rally outside a prison in Phnom Penh, Am Sam Ath of Licadho, told AFP.

“The government is scared by its own shadow,” he said, adding that the foreigners had been sent to immigration police.

All were later released after signing documents “promising not to do illegal activities”, he later said.